Last September 2, Ceuta's official holiday, became the stage for an unprecedented nationwide mobilization in support of the autonomous city. More than 260 municipalities across Spain held rallies called by the Spanish Federation of Municipalities and Provinces, in a day that combined solidarity with Ceuta's residents with increasingly sharp criticism of the central government's handling of the crisis.
The largest rally took place in Madrid's Plaza de Cibeles, though the exact number of attendees remains disputed: the government delegation put it at around 50,000 people, while Madrid's city council put the figure at 150,000. Spanish and Ceuta flags dominated the scene at nearly every rally held across the country.
Madrid's mayor's office said the capital was offering "firm and unequivocal support" to Ceuta's residents and to Spain's territorial integrity. Ceuta's regional president, for his part, declared that "the recovery begins, this force is unstoppable," while continuing to describe what happened in July as "a violation of Spain's territorial integrity" rather than a migration crisis.
The rallies had the explicit backing of the Popular Party and Vox, while the Socialist led government accused the organizers of using the day for partisan purposes. Several opposition figures went as far as demanding Pedro Sanchez's resignation, with one accusing him directly of having "betrayed" Ceuta's residents.
The government has responded by highlighting the financial effort directed at the city, which according to official figures now totals 309 million euros in aid allocated to Ceuta, and has argued that the protests distort a message of support for the city into an attack on the government itself.